What to expect at Paris airport

[rwestie37]

Hi,

I am American and will be flying into Paris CDG airport in September. This will be my first trip into France and wanted to get some help with what to expect.

I am relocating to the UK, so I will be going through customs on my spouse visa, along with my two small dogs.

Any advice from you guys that have travelled through or perhaps live there.

Thanks!

[Veronica]

Originally Posted by rwestie37

Hi,

I am American and will be flying into Paris CDG airport in September. This will be my first trip into France and wanted to get some help with what to expect.

I am relocating to the UK, so I will be going through customs on my spouse visa, along with my two small dogs.

Any advice from you guys that have travelled through or perhaps live there.

Thanks!

I have been unfortunate enough to have travelled through CDG airport on two occassions. Never again. It is totally chaotic, disorganised, confusing and the staff are not only unhelpful but obnoxiously rude.

[Bevdeforges]

Are you going to be stopping in France for a while? Or are you just changing planes in Paris with an onward flight to the UK?

In any event, you will have to deplane and pass through Immigration at a minimum. Since the UK isn't part of Schengen, I think they won't bother with your UK visa. (There is always an Immigration process for entering the UK when you get there.)

If you're staying for a while, then you'll get a regular Schengen visa (the stamp in the passport that's good for 90 days).

The Immigration lines are slow for non-EEC nationals. Make sure you have sufficient time between your arrival and your continuing flight, if that's your plan. Flights don't always arrive at the terminal they were originally scheduled for (especially in the case of the overnight arrivals from the US) and then you need to find the terminal your ongoing flight will be leaving from. They often announce this on the flight so pay attention to the announcements.

The signage at CDG leaves alot to be desired. To change flights, you should follow the "correspondence" signs. If you're staying in France, follow the signs to baggage claim or "sortie."

Are the dogs traveling with you in the cabin or as baggage? Things may well vary according to whether you're staying in France or going directly to the UK on a connecting flight.
Cheers,
Bev

[rynd2it]

Originally Posted by rwestie37

Hi,

I am American and will be flying into Paris CDG airport in September. This will be my first trip into France and wanted to get some help with what to expect.

I am relocating to the UK, so I will be going through customs on my spouse visa, along with my two small dogs.

Any advice from you guys that have travelled through or perhaps live there.

Thanks!

To be totally honest I have never had any issues at CDG at all, always got through immigration and customs quickly and baggage arrived promptly. Never more than 40 minutes from landing to the taxis. It could depend on the airline and exactly which terminal you arrive at - I always flew on American Airlines. However the plane was always late especially in the late summer when thunderstorms caused delays - allow for it by adding at least 2 hours to your scheduled arrival time for connections etc.

Now LHR is a very different animal - very badly laid out, and chaotic. Once described by a friend as similar to the Space Bar in Star Wars!

Bon chance

[rwestie37]

I'm only flying into Paris, taking the railway to Le Havre and ferry to Portsmouth. All this to avoid sending my dogs via cargo, they'll be in cabin with with on the flight and rest of my travel.

[hils]

Originally Posted by rwestie37

I'm only flying into Paris, taking the railway to Le Havre and ferry to Portsmouth. All this to avoid sending my dogs via cargo, they'll be in cabin with with on the flight and rest of my travel.

How d'you manage to get to be able to fly your dogs in cabin?

H

[erin85]

I found CDG to be incredibly quick and easy through immigration. We waited in line for about 10 minutes, went up to the window, and the guy stamped our passports... no questions or anything. At baggage, our dog (travelling as cargo) came out quickly, and we easily found the exit where our driver (we hired a car to pick us up) was waiting. Easy, much easier than customs in Atlanta (or Mexico, or just about anywhere else I've been)...

[rwestie37]

Originally Posted by hils

How d'you manage to get to be able to fly your dogs in cabin?

H

There are a few airlines that allow pets in cabin internationally, my two dogs are small 2 & 5 pounds.

[Bevdeforges]

You're lucky to have found an airline that allows two dogs in the passenger compartment. Some of them allow only one per flight.

In any event, you'll be arriving in Paris and will have to clear both immigration and customs there to move on to the train for the UK. Expect a full set of immigration and customs on arrival in the UK.
Cheers,
Bev

[rwestie37]

Good ole Delta thanks for all your wonderful help!

Rita